City cracks down on sale of ‘loosie’ cigarettes

The mayor of Providence on Wednesday signed a new measure aimed a cracking down on youth smoking and the retailers who feed the habit.

“Every day I see kids smoking before school and in front of the school. I find it heartbreaking to see the middle school students. It’s like they depend on it,” said Classical High School student Fabiola Noel during a signing ceremony at the John Brown Settlement House.

Despite state laws, city leaders say children are still getting their hands on cigarettes in Providence.

The ordinance requires all tobacco vendors in Providence to get a city license. It also reiterates a ban on selling single cigarettes, called “loosies.”

Yurdin, who pushed the plan, says loosies are a cheap way for kids to buy smokes and that a lot of stores are all too willing to supply them.

“I think that the data that’s been talked about is that 25 percent of the stores in Providence at some time or other are selling loosie cigarettes. So, it’s a significant problem,” Yurdin said.

The problem was featured in an NBC 10 hidden camera story. A city store was selling loosies, and a uniformed police officer hanging out in the store was sometimes behind the counter while it was going on.